China’s most beautiful countryside Huangling has opened the five-month China (Huangling) Shaiqiu Culture Festival, held by Wuyuan Rural Culture Development Co., Ltd., on July 9, showcasing the historic folk tradition of shaiqiu through demonstrations, performances, fashion shows and special competitions.

July 9th also marked the 6th day of the 6th month on the Chinese lunar calendar, which was the annual bathing and basking festival celebrated across China, every family in Huangling brought their winter clothes and kitchenware under the sun to dry thoroughly.

“The people in Huangling have long believed this day has the strongest sunshine of the year, and the things placed the blazing sun can keep the pests away until the winter next year,” explained local folk expert Sun Zhaoduo.

Huangling’s unique spectacle of shaiqiu represents the village’s culture and history, where villagers sun dry harvests and produces like chili peppers and chrysanthemum flowers in bamboo baskets on roofs to preserve the foods in the humid climate.

The large scale festival established in 2015 not only presents shaiqiu tradition to the world but also encourages visitors to interact with locals and engage in the fun activities.

The opening day attracted many tourists from home and abroad, who came to Huangling specially to experience of the original shaiqiu festival. Local artists performed traditional Wuyuan folk songs including “Song of Shaiqiu” in the countryside concert.

“I think the shaiqiu cultural festival was wonderful, it’s especially meaningful for young people to understand more of the traditional Chinese culture and folk traditions, and it’s also a nostalgic experience for me to find the memories of childhood,” said a visitor from Hunan Province.

The shaiqiu cultural festival will reach its peak season by the time of the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 15, and a special event will be held during the three-day national holiday from September 15 to 17.